Sculpture/painter/photographer/installation artist B.F.A, PGDIP F.A (Distinction)

Asdollah-Zadeh is an Auckland based sculptor, painter, photographer and installation artist. He is of Iranian/Filipino descent, born in the Philippines and raised in New Zealand. He studied at Elam School of Fine Art and completed his Post Graduate diploma at Elam in 2010. He particularly works with design based large scale sculptures, light-based objects, polygonal paintings, digital photography, video and installation works. Asdollah-Zadeh's art practice and academic research have focused on concepts of the human condition and migration of local and global displaced communities in Asia and the West. His current research is focused on place/displacement, diaspora/migration, experience/memory and the environment.

Asdollah-Zadeh is represented by Trish Clark Gallery in New Zealand.

Current Exhibitions:

• Trish Clark Gallery in Auckland, May 21 - 26 June 2021. ‘LIGHT DOT COLOUR’ a mini-survey. A selection of various project works by Asdollah-Zadeh from the last decade.

• The Suter Art Gallery in Nelson, May 29 - August 29 2021. New ‘PALE BLUE DOT’ paintings as a part of the group show exhibition ‘Light Dwells’. Exhibiting alongside Michael Parekowhai, Jonathan Jones and Kauri Hawkins.

• Auckland Council Public Art exhibition programme for 'RAINBOW MACHINE’.

  The interactive public sculpture is on exhibition throughout the summer and winter of 2021 in Auckland.

  Auckland Botanic Gardens in May - July 25th 2021. (Currently installed.)

  The Wallace Arts Centre Pah Homestead in April 2021.

  Silo Park, Wynyard Quarter Auckland waterfront in March 2021.

  Hobsonville Point wharf in February 2021.

  Takapuna beach in January 2021.

  Ngā Tohu o Uenuku / Māngere Arts Centre in September-December 2020.

Upcoming Exhibitions:

• Auckland Council Public Art exhibition programme for 'RAINBOW MACHINE’.

Recent Exhibitions:

• Ngā Tohu o Uenuku / Māngere Arts Centre in Auckland. 'SPECTRUMS' series photography exhibition, 2020. Curated by Hanna Scott.

• Ngā Tohu o Uenuku / Māngere Arts Centre in Auckland ‘RAINBOW MACHINE' an interactive public sculpture on exhibition, Spring 2020.

• The Physics Room in Christchurch ‘The Shouting Valley’ international group show 2020. Curated by Lisa Beauchamp and Jamie Hanton.

• Auckland Council Public Art commission in Silo Park Auckland. ‘RAINBOW MACHINE’ the interactive public sculpture summer exhibition 2020.

• Gus Fisher Gallery in Auckland ‘The Shouting Valley’ international group show 2019. Curated by Lisa Beauchamp.

• Auckland Council Public Art commission in Silo Park Auckland ‘RAINBOW MACHINE’ the interactive public sculpture summer exhibition 2019.

• The Physics room in Christchurch ‘Passionate Instincts’ group show 2016. Curated by Henry Davidson, Amelia Hitchcock, Emma Ng and Ted Whitaker.

• Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts ‘The Hive Hums With Many Minds’ group show 2016. Curated by Bruce E. Phillips.

• Enjoy Public Art Gallery in Wellington - 'The Screen' group show 2014. Curated by Emma Ng.

• The Film Archive in Auckland 'The revolution continued: the metamorphosis of memory' 2014. Curated by Paula Booker.

• Papakura art Gallery in Auckland 'Fear Faith and Persian Pop' 2013. Curated by Tracey Williams.

• Finalist at the Waikato contemporary award exhibition 2013.

• Mangere Arts Centre in Auckland 'Globalising Wall' group show 2012. Curated by James Pinker.

• Snake Pit in Auckland 'Persepolis' 2012.

• Media Interdisciplinary Centre in Auckland 'The revolution continued: what lays in the abyss it has created' 2011. Curated by Deborah Lawler.

• Whangarei Art Museum 'Credo and Quest' - a retrospective show on Religion and Spirituality in art within New Zealand, 2010. Curated by Scott Pothan.

• George Fraser Gallery in Auckland 'The revolution has not yet succeeded' group show 2010.

• Media Interdisciplinary Centre in Auckland 'The truth behind the persecution' group show 2009. Curated by Deborah Lawler.

• Whangarei Art Museum 'Ey Iran' international group show 2009. Curated by Scott Pothan.

• Poznan Academy of Fine Art in Poland 'Stand up' international group show 2009. Curated by Agnieszka Prygiel.

Recent Awards:

• The prestigious Gold tick awarded to ‘Rainbow Machine’ under the category ‘Architecture and Urban Design’ at the Good Design awards Australia.

• Supreme Purple Pin awarded to ‘Rainbow Machine’ under the category ‘Exhibition and Temporary Structures’ at the Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Awards 2019.

• Gold Pin awarded to ‘Rainbow Machine’ under the category ‘Colour’ at the Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Awards 2019.

• Gold Pin awarded to ‘Rainbow Machine’ under the category ‘Lighting Design’ at the Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Awards 2019.

• Gold Pin awarded to ‘Rainbow Machine’ under the category ‘Exhibition and Temporary Structures’ at the Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Awards 2019.

• Finalist at the Waikato contemporary award exhibition in Hamilton 2013.

• Amnesty International Defender of Human Rights award finalist 2010.

Collections:

Auckland Council Art Collection, University of Auckland Art Collection, Whangarei Art Museum Collection.

Art Reviews and Media Interviews:

• Review of ‘LIGHT DOT COLOUR’ exhibition at Trish Clark Gallery, 2021. A selection of various project works by Asdollah-Zadeh from the last decade. Eyecontactsite.com 'Mediating Symbols and Pure Sensation' by John Hurrell.

• University of Auckland online editorial, 2020 - Let there be light: RAINBOW MACHINE by Margo White.

• Designer’s Institute of New Zealand online editorial, 2020 - RAINBOW MACHINE an interview with the artists by Mike Barrett.

• Radio interview on ‘Art Not Science’, 2020 - Jamie Hanton Director of The Physics Room interviews Shahriar Asdollah-Zadeh from 'The Shouting Valley: Interrogating the Borders Between Us' exhibition. About his works from the ‘Pale Blue Dot’ series. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to listen. Episode 9. Shahriar Asdollah-Zadeh talks about his works the ‘Pale Blue Dot’ and the themes throughout his practice.

• Radio New Zealand on-air interview, 2020. The Weekend programme presents a conversation with radio presenter Lynn Freeman, and the artist team behind the RAINBOW MACHINE: Shahriar Asdollah-Zadeh, Patrick Loo and Sarosh Mulla.

• University of Auckland online editorial, 2019 - RAINBOW MACHINE by Margo White.

• Review of ‘The Shouting Valley’ exhibition at Gus Fisher Gallery, 2019. The Spin Off online The Shouting Valley: a politically charged show about lives caught between borders by Lana Lopesi.

• Idealog magazine StopPress article, 2019 - Idealog covers the Supreme Winners at 21st Best Design Awards - RAINBOW MACHINE.

• BFM on air interview about ‘The Shouting Valley’ exhibition, 2019. ARTBANK presents an interview with curator Lisa Beauchamp about The Shouting Valley exhibition.

• Review of ‘The Hive Hums With Many Minds’ exhibition at Te Tuhi, 2016. Circuit.org.nz The Hive Hums with Many Minds Part Two by Rebecca Boswell.

• Review of ‘The Hive Hums With Many Minds’ exhibition at Te Tuhi Gallery, 2016. Pantograph Punch online Failed Housing, Riff Raff, and All Goods: Great Art Moments in Auckland in 2016 by Lana Lopesi and Francis McWhannell.

• Review of ‘The Screen' exhibition at Enjoy Public Art Gallery, 2014. Stuff news online originally published on the Dominion Post. An invisible bullet by Mark Amery.

• Neighbourhood programme - A New Zealand televised documentary series filmed in 2014 - Neighbourhood tells stories about the people in Mt Eden. A documentary about Shahriar Asdollah-Zadeh’s art practice interviewed by reporter Sam Blackley.

• Review of ‘Fear, Faith and Persian Pop’ exhibition at Papakura Art gallery, 2013. Eyecontactsite.com ‘Glitz and Vulnerability’ by Mark Harvey. (available on request.)

• Review of ‘The Globalising Wall’ exhibition at Mangere Arts Centre, 2012. Eyecontactsite.com From the Globalising Wall by John Hurrell.

• Review of Whangarei Art Museum 'Credo and Quest' - a retrospective show on Religion and Spirituality in art within New Zealand, 2010. Art News New Zealand summer issue 2010 ‘Credo and Quest’ in Whangarei by Ruth Greencole. (available on request.)

• Asia Down Under programme - A New Zealand televised documentary series filmed in 2008 - Asia Down Under series 8 programme 33. A documentary about Shahriar Asdollah-Zadeh’s art practice interviewed by reporter Kadambari Raghkumar.

Art Writings and Publications:

• The Physics Room and Gus Fisher Gallery: ‘The Shouting Valley’ exhibition digital publication, 2020. Writing: by Lisa Beachamp.

• Gus Fisher Gallery: ‘The Shouting Valley’ exhibition text, 2016. Writing: ‘Pale Blue Dot’ a transcribed interview conversation by Shahriar Asdollah-Zadeh.

• Te Tuhi: ‘The Hive Hums With Many Minds’ exhibition digital publication, 2016. Writings: by Bruce E. Phillips and ‘Aotearoa and the Hive: the complex adaptive system’ by Bruce E. Philips and ‘Pale Blue Dot’ a transcribed interview conversation by Shahriar Asdollah-Zadeh.

• The Physics Room: A Year of Conscious Practice: Passionate Instincts exhibition website, 2016. Writing: ‘Passionate Instincts’ by Andrea Bell.

• Enjoy Public Art Gallery: ‘The Screen’ exhibition text, 2014. Writing: ‘Other People’s Problems’ by Emma Ng

• Auckland Council: ‘Fear, Faith and Persian Pop’ exhibition publication, 2013. Writings: ‘Fear, Faith and Persian Pop’ an introduction by Vera May and ‘‘Fear, Faith and Persian Pop’ an essay by Zara Sigglekow and Tracey Williams. (available on request.)

• Auckland Council: ‘The Globalising Wall’ exhibition publication, 2012. Writings: ‘The Spatial Divide’ by James Pinker and ‘Shahriar Asdollah-Zadeh in The Globalising Wall' by Zara Sigglekow. (available on request.)

• Media Interdisciplinary Centre: ‘The revolution continued: what lays in the abyss it has created' exhibition text, 2011. Writing: ‘Ghosts of Duration’ by Warren Pringle. (available on request.)